teaching new people

[ericmerg]

so i met this guy at the 3d range and he had bought a old bear kodiak he's a compound shooter. so i decided i shot the highest score for trad guys i was going to teach him how to shoot, so i started him off at about 3 yards and i stressed form which he actually caught onto really well so we did nothing but form for  25-35 minutes then we backed him up to 15 yards and i told him to shoot the exact same way but before he starts increasing back tension to pick a spot and really really hone into that spot and after 20 minutes of that i had him watch me  and pay close attention to the amount of focus i was putting on that spot i was looking at and how i didnt think about anything except that spot. so we ended up spending about 2 hours shooting after the 3d shoot was over and he got to where he was holding 8" groups at 25 yards just 2' left of where he was looking.

so he broke out his compound and showed me hopw accurate he was with the fancy sights and everything. so after he shot 6 shots i took 6 shots at 35 yards with my recurve and was able to hold about 2" larger of a group of his  granted i was taking my time and trying to hit his group due to it was only about the size of a  dixie cup. so after we shot we ran the course again with just the trad bows he scored an 86  i scored 243 the 2nd time and 233 the first time around so i made a believer out of him that trad bows can be shot well enough to hunt with. so score one for trad, i also brought him to my house and we tuned a half dz arrows i had laying around for him and i sent him on his way with a new tab, an armgaurd, a side quiver a half dz arrows and my contact info  for future lessons

[Bjorn]

Good job Eric!  

[wapitirod]

well done! it's impportant to the future of all outdoor sports to get people involved.  I run into stuff all the time on my other hobby of handgun hunting where people think it's a gimmick and they aren't accurate or powerfull enough to take an animal or do long range target shooting.  When you can take them out and show them the truth about whatever platform it is you are expanding their base knowledge and your chosen sport.  I've built and shot some pistols most couldn't comprehend as well as knowing people that have made unbelievable shots at outrageous ranges.  

Any weapon can be brought to the level above in the hands of someone that knows what they are doing and once you get a newbie hooked you've just grown the sport.

[toddster]

Kudo's, great job.  I have had several people convert (wink) over.  often on 3D ranges guys/gals joke around and in good nature i kid back.  We shoot around a little, then I say here, and step off the path into a hunting situation and they cann't hit but the longbow can and then they start thinking.  Few months ago, a guy was really making a case for the compound and even said he had to wait on and elk to get away from him, because he was taking a rest and was too close.  Then he said, " I drilled him at 40 yards"  I asked how close he was when he was sitting down, He said 15 to close to get up and shoot.  I smiled, layed on the grown, draw and shot an arrow into the target butt on my butt, then on my belly.  Got up and he said where can I buy one of those.  again great job.

[LONGSTYKES]

Eric,  very well done.